Your view: Ellen's achievement

A 28-year-old woman from landlocked Derbyshire has become the fastest single-handed sailor around the world.

Ellen MacArthur knocked more than a day off the existing record set by a Frenchman only last year.

Congratulating her on her success was former British sailing great Sir Chay Blythe.

"What Ellen has done is truly remarkable," Sir Chay said. Where does is fit among British sporting achievements?

These are a selection of your comments:

Sir. I could not get over the comment by the Conservative Party spokesman on Ellen MacArthur's superb achievement. As reported on your pages: "The only cloud on the horizon was the claim that her honour had been fast-tracked by Downing Street to make political capital. "John Whittingdale, the Tory culture spokesman, said that although she thoroughly deserved her honour, he was surprised by the speed with which it had been announced. 'It is difficult to think of a precedent for an honour being rushed through this quickly,' he said." I find this a totally useless, mean-spirited comment. Ralph Ezard

Along with Drake, Nelson, Alfred the Great and Boudicca, Ellen MacArthur makes us proud. Peter Bannister, Alice Springs, Australia

I think its great that an Australian built boat was part of this fantastic achievement. It goes to show that Australia is not just Beer, Bondi Beach and Kangaroos. We can produce highly technical products as well as anyone. Malcolm Freeman, Berwick, Victoria Australia

To those who decry her achievements because of technology and money, I would like to see them face the mountainous seas and storms alone for just 24 hours in a boat that size - let alone two months. She is truly a remarkable human being and deserves every accolade. Maureen Wighton, Toronto, Canada

How can anyone spend several million pounds sailing around the world when there are so many other worthy causes that the money spent on this pointless trip could have been put towards, like helping the families of servicemen and women who have given their lives for this country, the Aids crisis in Africa etc. What has Dame Ellen really achieved except to ensure that she will make a large amount of money for herself by appearing in talk shows and writing a book. I have to admit that her "achievement" does not impress me, and to top it all off she did it in a boat that was impossible to sink or sail off course. As for making her a Dame, where is the recognition for all those people in this country that spend their own time and money to achieve something tangible in other peoples lives? Richard, Bristol

Dame Ellen has performed a fantastic feat. It has displayed her skill, her dedication, and - up to a point - her bravery. I say 'up to a point' because I guarantee she was never far from assistance - in truth. This isn't to detract from her courage. However, some courage and some achievements are only relative to other things. Dame Ellen's feat was, after all, merely a sporting achievement which had no real value except in being accomplished. Jim Laker's 10 wickets; Len Hutton's 364 against Bradman's Australians; Angela Mortimer's Wimbledon title; Roger Bannister's under 4 minute mile; and many other sporting feats, were equally stirring and stupendous in their way. None of these, nor many such like sporting accomplishments, was anything like as truly worthy as Shackleton's epic voyage, Hunt's (and not forgetting his esteemed brave colleagues) conquest of Everest, Amundsen's polar explorations, and similar feats. And...we haven't even considered military self sacrifice and other forms of genuine conventional bravery! Dame Ellen deserves the highest plaudits, for a job exceptionally well done. She has shown exemplary character and spirit. The feat, however, is far from making her a candidate for any title of being a Great Briton. Surely such designation demands that the person's life and their work/deeds are outstandingly beneficial to at least the country - if not the world at large. We do tend to 'Americanize' our country's sporting achievements and make them, all too often, 'legendary' - quite wrongly, in my view. Roy Anderson, Mount Brydges, Ontario, Canada (a proud ex-pat)

Seems to me that a seventy foot trimaran crammed full of automation is a handy machine to get around the world in. This feat is reminiscent of that early Soviet Sputnik (can't remember which one) that carried the brave and undoubtedly heroic Laika into space. Laika was a small dog and, as I recall, also female. Regrettably (being male and therefore disadvantaged from birth) I can't shake off a couple of unworthy thoughts: if a male yachtsman had pulled off this stunt, would anyone have taken a blind bit of notice? And would a male yachtsman have bothered, anyway? Oh dear, there I go again... Rick Curtis, Johannesburg

A Dame! Surely some kind of joke. Has "Downing Street" really lost it's marbles? While Miss MacArthur has managed quite an achievement, does anybody really care? Keith Nield

How sad to think that people like Nigel Williams and Graham Turner can sneer at such an achievement. So from what point does technology have to be forbidden? What about the days when there was no radio - would not Chay Blythe have been considered to have advanced technology on board at the time? I am sure Ellen stared death in the face many times but we haven't to date heard any complaints from her, only whingeing such as this. No wonder Britain does not excel in many sports nowadays when such attitudes prevail. Added to this, it is ridiculous to compare the cost with that of "saving lives in Sri Lanka" - I suggest that Mr Williams (let's hope he has made a sizeable donation as well and put his money where his mouth is) take a trip out there to help boost the suffering tourist industry - that is, apparently, what they need most at present. These two gentlemen seem to be suffering from, at best, a lack of sense of relevance and proportion or, at worst, envy, the most insidious and widespread of British diseases. Diana Grayland

A lot of fuss about nothing in the great scheme of things. The whole country is celebrity mad. A Dame? Ridiculous. The whole honours system is a joke and this farce proves it. She will probably fly round the world in record time next. What about getting a real job? Edwina Langton, Brinscall, Lancashire

What a journey! Ellen it has been fantastic watching your progress all this time on your website and in the papers. The last several hours have really brought home the teamwork, the technology, the great spirit of adventure and sportsmanship involved (Joyon's warm words of congratulations). We have seen the competitive element and your triumph over the elements. I was so glad my kids could see and learn from your remarkable effort. They particularly want to know if you had a change of clothes on board and what you ate! Margaret Bargmann - Cardiff (South African)

God bless Ellen MacArthur. The day that she brought back the English to Englishness. This was true England paying homage to someone with guts, courage and purpose. Dame Ellen MacArthur ... England salutes you. Tom Godwin, Watford

What Ellen has achieved is absolutely thrilling. Thanks for the great pictures in the sports section today - they brought tears. Is it genetic ? After all there'd have been no empire if the British navy hadn't been superior to the rest. Kay Toggy

Unbelievable! The way so many people are jumping on the bandwagon to decry what she has just accomplished. I left England 30 years ago, first to live in France, now, since 20 years in the US. One reason I left was Britain's willingness, perhaps I should say, absolute desire, to try and drag anyone exceptional down to the lowest common denominator, the level of those who will never try and do better - and are proud of it. I would have liked to be in Falmouth this morning, if only to see the face of a remarkable young woman showing the spirit, courage, ability and everything else that used to be admired in making Britain great. Congratulations Ellen. Vic Elford, Florida, USA

And the award goes to..... Ellen MacArthur for her performance! With so much hype and attention given to the stars for their movie roles, none of them really show me what Ellen possesses. What an incredible achievement of skill, stamina and integrity. She is the kind of person I would rather my daughter look to as a role model rather than some of those that walk down the red carpets in all their glitz and glory. It is so encouraging for us to see someone like Ellen in the limelight. Celia Pray,USA

In our age of post-modernist nihilism, where artists are lauded with prizes for their portrayal of the bitterness and savagery of life, here today, we see another illustration of man's success over nature, in the ability to design and build such a magnificent craft of sublime beauty that cuts through the savage nature of the Southern ocean, and an illustration of strength of courage and no little skill from an individual, someone who has ably demonstrated that what you set your mind to you can achieve. Today has been a remedy against all the sad and pathetic "I'm a victim" stories we have to suffer in the news and in what passes for entertainment both in the arts and media. Welcome home to a heroine; she is a real antidote to the accepted culture of today. Warren Swales, Leeds

Ellen MacArthur may have achieved something notable but I doubt she will be taken to heart by people easily. There a couple of reasons for this, neither of which is her fault. She is, first off, not most people's idea of "heroic" - you have to be more stoical, more articulate, more likable, and to have been around longer to be seen that way by a British audience. Second, she is over-exposed by the media, something that automatically makes people suspicious. Perhaps she's just done it all too quickly. If she keeps it up for the next two decades people will eventually warm to here. Anonymous

Sir. Does this mean we are now likely to hear of Tony Blair's hitherto unknown sailing trips around the world, which he managed to fit in between his trips to Middle Earth. John Allison, Herefordshire

What Ellen has achieved is wonderful, but I could not sit on a boat thinking that the money spent on what is essentially a hobby, could have been spent on saving lives in Sri Lanka and the Sudan. As for her being made a Dame, its crass, two firemen died trying to save lives a few days ago, will their memories be ennobled ? Where are our morals and priorities? Nigel Williams, Madrid

Some callers to a radio show this morning were decrying Ellen's achievement as not being worth as much as it was in the days of Chichester and Blyth. Their arguments hinged on the technology she carried on board and the fact that she was never really on her own. What a load of twaddle. It's like saying that driving a car these days isn't as satisfying as in the days of the Model T Ford! Her achievement was to take eight tons of sailing boat over 27 thousand miles through some of the most inhospitable bits of the planet and to bring it gloriously home. Not only that, but to break the record at her first attempt! Perhaps her detractors should try surviving on 10-15 minutes sleep at a time for two months - without the added strain of managing the keep the yacht running at peak performance regardless of the weather and sea conditions or time of day. All I can say is that her damehood is thoroughly well deserved. Shaun Smith, Bristol

NO!! I am sick and fed up with people making heroes out of someone (not limited to this otherwise remarkable young lady) who follow in the footsteps of others, but with the massive assistance of modern technology. Chay Blyth built his own boat and then had his radio pack up after a few weeks, so he was out of contact for months - no satellite navigation etc., no chance of rescue if something went wrong. I am equally fed up with people who do oddball walks to the poles, but in the certain knowledge that a 'plane will pick them up in half an hour if anything goes wrong (Fiennes is the classic example). Brave? quite possibly. Heroic, afraid not. Graham Turner

Dear Sir. The awful tawdriness of politicians and football yobs pales into insignificance against the magnificent achievements of Ellen MacArthur. In the true spirit of Scott and Shackleton she has raised the flag another notch making me proud of my English heritage. For as long as there are Englishmen and Englishwomen with her drive, vision and fortitude, "there will always be an England." Ellen I salute you. Dennis Hoines, South Africa

Ellen's deeds are an inspiration to women, and to young and old alike around the globe. We can all take heart and dreams from the skill, stamina, courage and inner strength of this amazing girl. Her exploits put her undoubtedly among the pantheon of the greatest Britons, and remind us again that it is the young people of the world who eye the stars. Allan Friswell, Clitheroe, Lancashire

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